Where the ward clerk salary sits against the Australian full-time average
If you work as a ward clerk in Australia, your pay is likely set by an award or enterprise agreement. The most common award for private-sector clerical workers is the Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for this award, and the latest guide (effective from 1 July 2026) shows minimum weekly rates for full-time adult employees.
Award minimum rates for ward clerks
Under the Clerks Award, a ward clerk would typically be classified at Level 2 or Level 3, depending on duties and experience. The minimum weekly pay for Level 2 year 1 is $1,119.10, which works out to about $58,193 per year (based on a 38-hour week, 52 weeks). At Level 3, the minimum is $1,182.10 per week, or about $61,469 per year. The highest clerical classification in the award, Level 5, pays $1,291.80 per week ($67,174 per year). These are minimums; many employers pay above the award, and public hospital ward clerks may be covered by different arrangements.
How these rates compare to the national average
The Australian Bureau of Statistics' Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year. That is the figure used as the benchmark on this site. Even the top clerical rate under the award is only about 62% of that average. The gap reflects the fact that ward clerk roles are generally administrative and do not require tertiary qualifications, whereas the national average includes many higher-paid professional and managerial positions.
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 per year on 38 hours). A ward clerk at Level 2 year 1 earns about $1,119 per week, which is $114 above the minimum wage. The full-time median earnings for all employees (from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025) are about $90,532 per year, so a ward clerk on award rates is well below the median as well.
State-by-state averages
Your location also matters. The ABS publishes full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings by state and territory. For example, the highest average is in the Australian Capital Territory at $2,290.20 per week ($119,090 per year), while Tasmania has the lowest at $1,846.30 per week ($96,008 per year). A ward clerk in Tasmania on the award minimum would be closer to the state average than one in the ACT, but still below it. You can explore state and territory averages to see how your local pay compares.
What about the median?
The national full-time median of about $90,532 is a better measure of what a typical full-time worker earns than the average, which is pulled up by high incomes. A ward clerk on $58,000 is below the median, but many clerical roles fall in the lower half of the earnings distribution. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual workers) is about $74,100, which is still above the ward clerk award rate. However, actual ward clerk salaries may be higher if you have experience or work under a better enterprise agreement.
How to check your own ward clerk salary
If you want to see where your pay sits on the line, you can place your salary on the line and compare it to the national average, medians, and minimum wage. The tool uses a 38-hour week and shows your weekly and hourly equivalents. You can also browse job medians for related clerical roles, or industry medians for health care and social assistance. For more guidance on how the figures are set, see how the figures are set.
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy of 2% applies before reductions. A ward clerk earning $58,000 would pay about $7,867 in tax plus $1,160 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home pay of about $48,973 per year. Use the ATO's tax calculator for your exact situation.
Summary
A ward clerk salary is typically set by award minimums that are significantly below the national full-time average of $108,352. Even at the highest clerical level, the award rate is only about $67,000 per year. Actual pay may be higher depending on your employer and experience. For a precise comparison, use the tools on this site to see where your salary falls on the line.